Just another WordPress.com site

Ribosome

(Click image to enlarge in new window)

Objective: To find and learn about the ribosome!

I’ve already talked a bit about ribosomes while I was searching for the nucleus, but now here is a full explanation of these important organelles! Thankfully, ribosomes are much smaller in size compared to the nucleus, and they are more plentiful, which will make it easier to find and carry them around! But they are so darn small, it makes my eye hurt to find them! Can you see the ribosome in this picture?

<Scroll to bottom for correct location…>

The Ribosome:

Protein Synthesis:

Ribosomes are organelles that produce proteins in a process called tranlsation, and there are two types: free ribosomes and bound ribosomes. Free ribosomes are ribosomes that are not attached to a membrane and are suspended in the cytoplasm – these ribosomes tend to make the most proteins, such as the ones that catalyze sugar. Bound ribosomes are attached to the endoplasmic reticulum (E.R.) and nuclear envelope, and they usually make membrane proteins which are involved in protein secretion and packaging. Examples of bounded ribosomes include the ribosomes of the pancreas, which secrete digestive enzymes. However, both ribosomes have very similar structures and are made out of two subunits: rRNA and protein. In general, cells that make more protein have more ribosome.

The ribosome is made out of two subunits: the small subunit (rRNA) and the larger subunit (protein).